Recap: Venezuela suffer late collapse against Mexico

Alejandro Moreno appeared as a 74th-substitute but couldn't keep Mexico from overcoming Venezuela, as the El Tri scrapped out a 3-1 win at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Wednesday night.

The first half was relatively uneventful, highlighted by three yellow cards and a shot to the crossbar from Mexican striker Oribe Peralta.

La Vintotinto wasted no time in the second half, however, and quickly jumped ahead in the scoreline. In the 52nd minute, Edgar Grego pounced on a corner kick and headed it into the net between a defender and goalkeeper Jesús Corona to give Venezuela the 1-0 lead.

The South Americans only held for on for 17 minutes, however. Mexico left back Carlos Salcido whipped home a powerful shot that took a deflection off Greco and sailed past 'keeper José Leonardo Morales to pull El Tri even.

The match then turned into a chippy affair as both squads refused to give. With 16 minutes left in the match, Venezuela manager César Farías opted to bring Moreno into the fold in hopes that the Chivas USA veteran would help his team keep more possession. But just when it looked as though Venezuela would hang on to the tie, their ship quickly sank.

In the 88th minute, Chivas de Guadalajara man Marco Fabián de la Mora had his shot deflected by Morales, but the rebound wound up at the feet of Rafaél Márquez Lugo, who slotted home to give Mexico the lead.

Just a minute later, Peralta atoned for striking the post by curling a stunner from 22 yards out inside the far upper 90, sealing the 3-1 score line that perhaps flattered Mexico.

Columbus Crew striker Emilio Rentería, who was also called up by Venezuela for the match and came on as a sub against the US at the weekend, did not play.

Both he and Moreno will now join up with their respective teams for preseason camp.